Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation

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The National Conference with international participation on New Cryogenic and Isotope Technologies for Energy and Environment - EnergEn 2018 is organized by the National Research-Development Institute for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies - ICSI Rm. Valcea with the scientific participation of the University of Pitesti and the University of Craiova and will be held at Baile Govora, in 2018.
ON THE ROAD TO HIGH PERFORMANCE PEM FUEL CELLS FOR PORTABLE APPLICATIONS Print

ON THE ROAD TO HIGH PERFORMANCE PEM FUEL CELLS FOR PORTABLE APPLICATIONS

 

 

S. Enache*, I. Petreanu, L. Pătularu, D. Ebraşu, D. Schitea, M. Varlam

 

 

National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies - ICSI Rm. Valcea,

 

Uzinei Street no. 4, P.O. Box Râureni 7, 240050, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

For portable applications, low mass and reduced cost integrated Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) should deliver power intermittently, adaptable to customer demand, without involving intermediate power conversion units. One way to achieve that is to scale down the active area in order to reduce the specific ohmic losses at the expense of making use of more single-cells (i.e., or stacks) to match the desired output power (e.g., ~20Wh).

In this work, we show that PEM single-cells with 10cm2 active area have excellent power output (i.e., > 0.5W/cm2). Although high fuel and oxidant flows are used, the optimal operating temperature is not higher than 55°C. This is, however, due to the interplay between the temperature dependent activation mechanism responsible for the enhanced proton conductivity of the membrane and the optimal clamping force on the cell that mitigates water management.

 

Keywords: PEMFC, proton conducting membrane, gas diffusion layer.


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*Corresponding author: Stanica Enache, phone: 0250.732.744; fax: 0250.732.746; E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it